Active front, North Island 15th May

[jamie]

Thought this front is going to be more than general may weather.

Metservice say the trough will hit upper NI in the afternoon... to me this is looking too late. looks to me as though it will be around 9-10am

[BeaconHill]

Woken at 5:50am by a couple of claps of thunder here in Wellington. Last 2 flashes of lightning approx 2km north of airport, then heavy rain arrived and no more. Disappointed there was not more as I was all setup with my 4 year old son in the sun porch to watch the show! Was trying to explain to him what lightning and thunder is all about.

To make matters worse, the rain fade (peak of 114.3mm/h so far!!) now keeps interrupting "Special Agent Oso" on SkyTV

[Manukau heads obs]

rain radar does show more squally showers to come yet for welly

[KiwiWeather]

A gorgeous morning here. Red/orange sunrise contrasted against a deep blue sky. A classic shepherd's warning.
I do hope we see some action today

[Manukau heads obs]

the front is looking a bit better in the last sat image, with some discrete CB's on it, out to the west of the NI
hopefully it gets more active as it approaches the upper NI...

[jamie]

sure is bloody warm this morning. can only be a good thing!!

[BeaconHill]

Brian was correct. HEAVY showers passing through.
Peak of 188mm/hr at 7:44am. Still hosing down now.
25mm since 6am as at 8:10am

[Wildland]

Short intense bursts of rain here in Tawa since 6:30 a.m. have brought 22 mm of rain.
Peak rain rate of 90 mm/hr at 07:41.
Heard thunder at 06:30 and AM radio detects bursts of noise due to lightning.

Some big gusts of wind too. A wild start to the day.

[Tornado Tim]

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taranaki, Taumarunui

[BeaconHill]

Would not be surprised if there has been surface flooding in many parts of Wellington. I just had fun out in a torrential downpour clearing the grates on the drains out on the road, and they were flowing like rivers. We live up on the hill, so hate to think how the drains were coping at the bottom of the hill. Also, the sports fields as Scots College would be good for boat races at the moment!! They are more like a lake!

[jamie]

im tracking a strom to my WNW and i can see it from here. very nice updraft!

[jamie]

busy day for the forecasters i think

[Orion]

What an interesting outlook! thanks for that.

[Manukau heads obs]

I can see a CB out to my west
looks reasonable, but nothing to get too excited about...at this stage...

[Manukau heads obs]

photo

[jamie]

have just lost all the sunshine. going to be hard to see any incomming CB now.

[Manukau heads obs]

im tracking a strom to my WNW and i can see it from here

is that the same one as my photo above?
I am not picking up strikes from it...but am from CB's to the NW of northland (it seems anyway)

[Vertigo]

this first line wont be that active, but should produce some heavy rain

[Manukau heads obs]

yeah, the showers developing back in the tasman on the sharpening trough are stating to look better and better on the sat pic

[jamie]

im tracking a strom to my WNW and i can see it from here

is that the same one as my photo above?
I am not picking up strikes from it...but am from CB's to the NW of northland (it seems anyway)

It possibly was the same one brian. Im not sure which way you have been looking to take that photo. Were you looking NW?

I picked up a couple of stirkes from it back when i posted. Nothing now. Had a dodgey electiric fence standard out in the cows that just started craking away. At first i thought the storm had exploded as it was plotting them in nearly the exact spot the storm was . But once it climbed to 40/min i realised id have to go find the problem .

[jamie]

brian going by the rain radar it looks like you are in the path of a classic guster. almost looks like it could be showing signs of a classic bow echo. you could get some good gusts off it im thinking.

[Manukau heads obs]

I thought what you were tracking might have been an electric fence short, LOL
yes, rain radar shows its a good gust front line

latest zoomed in picy of a pressure pileus cap over a tower that went up

[Nev]

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Issued by MetService at 09:54 am Sunday 15 May 2011.
Valid until 10:45 am Sunday 15 May 2011.

This warning affects people in the following local government areas:
STRATFORD, SOUTH TARANAKI, RUAPEHU, WANGANUI and NEW PLYMOUTH.

At 09:45 am, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near NORTH TARANAKI BIGHT.

These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the southeast, and are expected to lie near MOUNT MESSENGER and URUTI at 10:15 am and near WHANGAMOMONA and THE HILL COUNTRY WEST OF NATIONAL PARK at 10:45 am.

These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and damaging wind gusts.

Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.

Very strong wind gusts can break branches from trees, damage roofing, and make driving hazardous especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in force for TARANAKI, TAUMARUNUI, WAIKATO and WAITOMO.

The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management advises that as storms approach you should:
- Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;
- Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;
- Move cars under cover or away from trees;
- Secure any loose objects around your property;
- Check that drains and gutters are clear;
- Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving.
During and after the storm, you should also:
- Beware of fallen trees and power lines;
- Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding.

This warning is due to be updated or lifted by 10:45 am Sunday 15 May 2011.

NOTE: Only severe thunderstorm tracks are shown in the graphic. Other thunderstorms may exist in the area.

MEDIA PLEASE NOTE: This warning will be updated within the next hour or so. MetService would appreciate it being broadcast regularly during this period.

[Vertigo]

getting gusty here now, and im watching the CB line about to hit you now brian, and the waitaks

[spwill]

Thunderstorms are looking very isolated, I wonder if day time heating can get storms firing on the Front over land.

Photo of the Front west of Auckland 20mins ago.